There were multitudes of intentions hidden in the hearts of the people venturing into the Alcove region. The territory was one of the last vast and unconquerable frontiers. The forest and mountains were riddled with dangerous monstrous beasts but also lucrative dungeons and abundant resources. Due to those reasons, the large city of Randelle was built nearby to capitalize on the riches waiting to be plucked.
The majority of the people who ventured into the dangerous region came to get rich but many died trying. Many of those who died were the poor and destitute fighting their way out of their situations and circumstances.
Occasionally, there were others who used the dangerous area as a refuge. And then there were those who used the place to commit crimes.
A group of heavily-clad armored men with the symbol of the Phoenix engraved on their chest plates gripped tensely at their raised swords. All of them had various flesh wounds and were breathing heavily as they have been desperately running from their pursuers in the pouring rain. Their fallen leader laid in a growing pool of his own blood behind them. Exhausted and with nowhere to go, they had no choice but to risk it all in one last showdown. They were surrounded and out numbered by their enemy whose faces were covered in black masks.
The oldest knights of the party attempted to scare off their pursuers with a bluff.
"You dare attack the House of Phoenixes! Our emergency beacons have notified reinforcements! You will all perish under the claws of the Phoenix!"
One of the masked figures scoffed. "Don't try to lie your way out of this one. Seeing how you're all going to die, I'll let you in on a little secret." He proceeded to take out an orb. The old knight's face dropped.
"You see, we've set up a barrier long before you entered. Your communication tactics were useless from the moment you stepped foot in this forest."
The knights fell into despair as they understood this was no robbery but a set up from the start. They knew their fate, but had to do something to keep their leader alive.
The masked man laughed in delight at the knights dejection. "Kill them all, especially that half dead noble behind them. I want his head!" The masked men roared in madness as they ran in for slaughter.
The knights were calm. They were well trained and disciplined. Uncountable times did the knights face off with Death. Their resolve to lay down their lives was made long ago.
Drenched with rain dripping down his face, the oldest knight calmly looked at their youngest brother-in-arms and handed him a light blue orb. "Listen carefully Calvin. There is no time for complaints. Tell them to me when we meet again in the after life." The young knight wanted to protest but he held back as he knew one of them would have to take the role. "Take this orb and everything else. Protect the young master at all costs! You know what to do."
The knights looked at each other and with a determined look they nodded in respect one last time for each other. Throwing their remaining belongings back to the youngest knight, the surrounding mana surged and pushed back against the rain as the knights prepared for their last battle. Both sides ran fiercely at each other intending to cut the other side down.
The swords filled with mana clashed, echoing like thunder in the rain. Each side swung with the intent to kill. The experienced knights covered one another as they parried the bombardment of slashes from their many enemies. The knight defended and fought bravely requiring more of their enemies to attack, however, there were just too many and the knights were overwhelmed. They started taking on serious wounds that would soon turn fatal.
The oldest knight suddenly shouted, "NOW!!!" Waiting on que, Calvin sent mana into the orb and a blue barrier of light covered him and the young man beside him. He proceeded to give emergency aid now that the barrier was activated. All the other knights took out a bubbling bright yellow-green vile from their the inner parts of their wrist guards.
The eyes of the masked attackers widened in fear. "Retreat!!" The enemy forces yelled.
It was too late. As the knights smashed the volatile concoction on the ground. They never tried to win through fighting. They knew from the start they would lose this battle. However, they still could take down their enemy with them and win the war. Their goal was to draw out all their pursuers to wipe them all out in one go.
Their plan had succeeded.
A blinding white light blasted out into the sky, vaporizing away everything within the nearby vicinity. The barrier barely held on as Calvin supplied it all his mana. The explosion scared away all the creatures in proximity and momentarily stopped the rain. Out of mana, Calvin collapsed beside his young master who lead his platoon. The rain soon continued but to a slow drizzle as if showing pity.